Tips for a safe and happy holiday season
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

NORTH BRUNSWICK - The North Brunswick Police and Fire Departments are advising residents on how to stay safe during the holiday season with suggestions on how to protect themselves and their homes.

Decorations:

- Choose flame-retardant, noncombustible and nonconductive decorations.

- All lights should be UL approved.

- Indoor lights should not be used outdoors because they lack weatherproof connections, and outdoor lights could burn too hot indoors.

- Light sets should be inspected for cracked bulbs and frayed, broken or exposed wires. Faulty lights should be discarded.

- All lights should be turned off before sleeping or leaving the house.

The Christmas tree:

- A tree with high moisture content is safer. Needles should bend, not break, and very few needles should fall to the floor. The stump should be sticky with resin.

- Two to 3 liters of water should be in the tree stand daily.

- Do not set up the tree near a heat source such as a radiator, television, fireplace, heating duct or sunny window. Do not block doors or windows.

- Never use lighted candles on trees.

- Do not use metallic ornaments, as they could become a shock hazard if they come into contact with defective wiring.

- Remove the tree within 10 to 14 days before the tree starts to dry out.

Electrical outlets:

- Do not overload wall outlets.

- Insert plugs fully into outlets. Poor contact may cause overheating or stock.

- Do not coil or bunch extension cords which are in use and do not run them under carpets or rugs.

Candles: - Candles should be placed away from anything that could catch fire and should be nowhere near drafts, curtains, children and pets.

- Burning candles should never be left unattended, and should be snuffed before sleeping or leaving the house.

- Candles should be placed in sturdy holders on a stable surface.

The fireplace:

- Never burn gift-wrappings, boxes, cartons or other packing materials in the fireplace. Don't use Christmas trees for firewood.

- Don't hang Christmas stockings from the mantel when the fire is burning.

- Always use a screen in front of the fireplace to protect against sparks.

- Never use gasoline or other flammable liquids to start a fire.

The kitchen:

- If grease catches fire, smother the flames with a lid and turn off the heat immediately. Use baking soda, but never flour or water, on shallow grease fires. Do not turn on the overhead fan as this could spread the fire.

When shopping:

- Don't carry large amounts of cash. If you must carry cash, divide the cash between purses, pockets and wallets.

- Don't carry excess credit cards. Make sure that the account numbers of each credit card are stored at home.

- Don't carry a purse by the handle and don't place your arm through the strap and let it dangle. Place one end of the purse in your hand or carry it upside down with the clasp unlocked but held closed in your hand.

- For men, carry the wallet in the breast pocket of a jacket, not in the rear trouser pocket.

- Be wary of bargains such as expensive perfumes or clothing at a fraction of the real cost, as these are notorious frauds during the holiday season.

- Don't put packages in the rear seat of the car and leave them unattended; place all packages in a locked trunk.

- Don't leave delivered packages on the doorstep. Arrange to be home when a delivery is anticipated.

When returning home after shopping:

- Don't wait until your reach your front door to look for your house keys; have them ready in your hand.

- Lock the front door immediately when entering your home; do not wait to put the packages down inside first.

If going on vacation:

- Do not publicize your plans ahead of time.

- Notify the police if you are leaving for an extended period of time. File a house watch report so that patrolmen can check on the house when they are in the neighborhood.

- Leave information on where you can be contacted in an emergency with a trusted neighbor and ask them to watch the house.

- Give your house a lived-in appearance.

- Don't leave lights on 24 hours a day.

- Put automatic timers on several lights and a radio. Set them so they will turn on and off at random times in different rooms, especially the bathroom.

In case of an emergency, always call 911.